COC LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING TOTAL ATHLETE WELLNESS PROGRAM

COC and Deloitte Announce Unprecedented 16 Year Extension

TORONTO (September 24, 2015) – On Thursday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), and Deloitte launched Game Plan – a high performance athlete wellness and transition program designed to give Canadian athletes new tools to pursue excellence during and beyond their sporting careers.

The COC and Deloitte also announced the renewal of their partnership through 2032 – an unprecedented term of engagement, highlighting Deloitte’s positive impact on the sport system in Canada. The COC also announced today that human resources leader, Morneau Shepell, is partnering with the organization through 2020 as an official supporter and Founding Partner of the Game Plan program, providing a suite of mental health services to athletes. As a Premier National Partner of the COC, RBC will also be joining the program as a Founding Partner and lending their expertise in financial literacy to the athlete community.

The Game Plan program, which is supported by the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSI Network), has a goal to provide Canadian athletes with resources for life beyond sport. This new initiative which has been near three years in development, takes a proactive approach to total athlete wellness. It is designed to alleviate life’s common stressors and distractors, allowing athletes and coaches to focus on performing when it matters most.

The Game Plan program takes the very best information from all of its partners to cultivate an elite ecosystem of resources all in one place. Game Plan advisors will form part of the integrated support teams for athletes, working alongside sport scientists and performance experts. Game Plan Advisors are skilled in supporting athletes, drawing on their knowledge of high performance sport, career development, transition planning and goal-setting.

Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls will be encouraged to access the five distinct elements of the Game Plan program, which include: education, skill development, health, network, and career management. Each element is then made up of various pertinent modules – 33 initially, with others being added as the program evolves. Some examples of specific modules and resources that will be available to athletes include:

• Career Management – a job board featuring flexible work opportunities for athletes
• Network – a mentoring program set up between transitioning athletes and next generation hopefuls
• Education – specialized training opportunities and flexible class schedules at participating institutions
• Skill Development – conferences and webinars educating athletes on personal and corporate brand management, public speaking skills and financial planning
• Health – access to mental health support 24/7 and mental health awareness training.

Ease of use and accessibility for athletes will be key to the program, with all resources being consolidated in a new website at www.mygameplan.ca. Specific resources will be delivered in multiple platforms at convenient times including through conferences, digital applications, one-on-one counselling, and group sessions.

Game Plan is now available for athletes, with modules for each element becoming more comprehensive as the program grows and develops.

For more information on Game Plan, please visit: www.mygameplan.ca 

To view the Game Plan video, please click here: http://bit.ly/1R0KIEw 

QUOTES

“Game Plan is a game-changing program for our high performance athletes. Designed by leading experts from the ground up with athletes and for athletes, it delivers a program they have been in need of for years. It gives athletes the power to take control, build their own path to the podium on the field of play and plan their exit strategy off it. We are giving athletes the right tools they need to succeed at sport and in life.”

Christopher R. Overholt, CEO, Canadian Olympic Committee

“We are thrilled to expand our involvement with the COC through the development of Game Plan. Having worked closely with the sporting community to determine our athletes’ needs, we’ve developed an incredible program that will position athletes for continued success both within and outside of sport. Our renewed partnership with the COC through to 2032 will allow us to really make an impact on the future of sport in Canada and on the continued pursuit of Canadian excellence.”

Frank Vettese, Managing Partner and Chief Executive, Deloitte

“Morneau Shepell is excited to announce its designation as official mental health partner and official supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, and founding partner of Game Plan. Our expertise in designing and providing mental wellness programs for a diverse set of organizations and their people makes this partnership both a natural and logical extension of our business activities. Game Plan as a total athlete wellness program provides an unprecedented combination of resources and support to elite athletes, encouraging their best performance both during and following their careers representing Canada on the world stage.”

Alan Torrie, President and CEO, Morneau Shepell

“The IOC is very happy to support the work of the COC in their holistic efforts to help their athletes both on and off the field of play. Athletes are at the heart of the Olympic Movement and remain the central focus to everything the IOC does. Initiatives like the Game Plan, IOC Athlete Career Programme and Athlete Learning Gateway provide invaluable assistance to athletes before, during and after their sporting careers to ensure they achieve lifelong excellence.”

Claudia Bokel, IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair and IOC Athlete Career Programme Steering Committee Chair

“This is an incredible and ground-breaking initiative by the COC and its partners that will dramatically change the landscape of sport in Canada for the better. This total athlete wellness program will ensure more seamless transitions, help our athletes compete longer and will motivate more Canadians to pursue their Olympic dreams knowing that this program will ultimately help to ensure both high performance athletic outcomes, and high performance careers after sport.”

Rosie MacLennan, two-time Olympian, London 2012 gold medallist

“Game Plan is an incredible undertaking and one that the COC and its partners should be so proud of. Canada is certainly breaking ground with this program, ensuring athletes are developed holistically while equipping them for life beyond sport with all the resources and support they could need.”

Jeff Christie, two-time Olympian, COC Athletes’ Commission Chair and Board of Directors Member

“On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, we are very pleased with the development of this world-class initiative that will help all of Canada’s high performance athletes achieve their full potential, both on and off the field of play. Working together as Team Canada, this exciting program will provide athletes and coaches with resources to enhance their pursuit of excellence at every stage of their athletic and personal lives, building role models and heroes to inspire all Canadians.”

Gaétan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee

“The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network is proud to be a partner in the Game Plan program and to be the driving force in the delivery of the program to athletes across the country. Game Plan furthers the COPSI Network’s aim of delivering world-class sport science and sport medicine services to Olympic, Paralympic and high performance athletes by empowering them to plan for their career and life after competitive sport, ultimately reducing stress and distractions so they can focus on their current goals in order to perform to their maximum potential. This is an unprecedented program and truly showcases the power of the high performance sport system in Canada.”

Debbie Low, CEO and President of Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, on behalf of the COPSI Network

“I’m really looking forward to exploring the many innovative resources being offered with this program and I know many of my fellow athletes will feel the same. As athletes representing Canada, we leave no stone unturned in our quest for the podium, and we apply equal passion to the rest of our life in pursuit of personal and professional excellence. Thank you to all partners involved in this project for their dedication to athlete wellness.”

Benoit Huot, four-time Paralympic swimmer, 19-time Paralympic medallist

About the Canadian Olympic Committee:

The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team's podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the Canadian Olympic Committee delivers resources that Canada's elite athletes need to perform at their best and give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada's Olympic movement, the Canadian Olympic Committee works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. By sharing our athletes' stories, we inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee:

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 25 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian high performance athletes with a disability and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.

About the Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Sport Institute Network:

The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSI Network) is a partnership between the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and the Canadian Sport Institute Network which is made up of seven Sport Institutes and Centres across Canada. The aim of this partnership is to strengthen and align Canada’s high performance sport system through a shared vision, areas of collaboration and new funding opportunities. The COPSI Network supports Canada’s world-leading Olympic and Paralympic podium performances by providing world-class, multi-sport daily training environments to high performance athletes, coaches, and sport organizations through expert leadership, programs, and sport science and sport medicine services.

About Deloitte

Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

About Morneau Shepell Inc.

Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrative approach to employee assistance, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the leading provider of employee and family assistance programs, the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity and improve their competitive position. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 20,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With almost 4,000 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

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Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:

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Canadian Paralympic Committee Media Office:

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Louis Daignault, Coordinator, Communications
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Morneau Shepell Media Office:

Gwen McGuire, Kaiser Lachance Communications,
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Deloitte Media Office:

Emily Richardson, Manager, Media Relations
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COPSI Network Media Office:

Debbie Low, President and CEO, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
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#ThanksCoach: Les Gramantik

Determined. Demanding. Loyal.

This is Les Gramantik, a European-born Olympic pole-vaulter turned legendary Canadian athletics coach. Gramantik made his mark in Canada by coaching two of the country’s most successful multi-event athletics athletes in history, Jessica Zelinka and Michael Smith.

Zelinka is a two-time Olympian, finishing 7th at the 2012 Olympic Games in both the heptathlon and 100m hurdles, while Smith is a three-time Olympian, 1991 World Championship Silver Medallist and former national record holder in the decathlon.

Rachel Machin with Les Gramantik

In conversation with Gramantik, it is apparent that much of his success comes from his diligence and pure love for sport. He describes coaching as “a passion, not a job,” and says, “I am fortunate to have found my passion and live it. I have not taken a holiday in fifteen years. Why would I? I am on holiday every day.”

Now Gramantik is training a younger generation of athletes at the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary. He has created what he calls, “The best group I have ever had.” After forty-five years of coaching, that is high praise for team members Rachael McIntosh, Natasha Jackson, Nicole Oudenaarden, Rachel Machin, and Katelyn Lehner.

With September 19-27, 2015 being declared National Coaches Week by the Coaching Association of Canada, Team Gramantik has every reason to say #ThanksCoach for the impact that their coach has had on them, both on and off the field of play.

The coach-athlete relationship between Gramantik and Rachael McIntosh is based on a foundation of trust and long-term goal setting. Immediately after high school, McIntosh began competing for the University of Pittsburgh on a full NCAA scholarship. She experienced a year of instability and frustrations, changing coaches several times throughout the year.

Fate was in her favour, however, when she met Gramantik the following summer. He saw the 19-year-old’s potential and offered her long-term commitment. “I can see us working together 12 years from now,” Gramantik said.

That was all McIntosh needed to hear as she packed her bags, renounced her scholarship, and moved to Calgary. “Although I gave up my scholarship, I saw the opportunity to train with one of the world’s greatest coaches and to build myself a name and reputation working with one of the most talented athletes our country has to offer.”

McIntosh and her teammates have bright athletic futures thanks to Gramantik’s vision for them. After decades of experience, Gramantik only sees more coaching down the road, exuding passion when he says, “I can really help athletes. As an old Hungarian saying goes, 'A good priest will learn until he is dead,' and I am still learning and getting better.”

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary

Written by Brittany Schussler: @BSchussler

Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto

Game Plan, NextGen, Coaching Association of Canada, Strength and Conditioning, Les Gramantik

Madell Leads Parapan Am Games Team

The Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSIC) would like to congratulate all of the athletes who competed at the Parapan Am Games in Toronto from August 7-15, 2015. Team Canada finished second in the medal count with a total of 50 gold, 63 silver, and 55 bronze medals. CSIC athletes contributed to the team’s results in a big way, with Morgan Bird, Zachary McAllister, and Zach Madell winning gold medals, Jennifer Brown winning gold and silver, Michael Sametz, Kirstie Kasko, Chad Jassman, Peter Won, and Arinn Young earning silver medals, and Aron Ghebreyohannes, Tiana Knight, Blair Nesbitt, Tammy Cunnington, as well as the women’s and men’s sitting volleyball teams earning bronze medals.

Chosen to carry the Canadian flag and lead Team Canada into the closing ceremonies was 21-year-old wheelchair rugby athlete Zak Madell. He describes the atmosphere of competing at a home games as, “Better than I could ever have dreamt of. The fan support and energy of the city of Toronto were unbelievable. The announcement that I was carrying the flag was made to the whole rugby team just minutes after receiving our gold medals at the ceremonies, so the rush of emotions was truly overwhelming.”

A member of the CSIC since 2011, Madell believes that he utilizes the CSIC’s services to the fullest potential, working with “a Strength & Conditioning coach three times a week as well as accessing therapy for rehab and injury prevention whether it be acupuncture, ultrasound or massage to keep the body in tip-top shape.” Madell says he owes a lot of credit to “the CSIC for all of their support, as well as my personal sponsor Vesco Metal Craft for all of my wheelchairs and parts.”

Chris Osmond, Madell’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, is not shocked by Madell’s success. He describes working with him as a privilege, saying, “Zak is a tremendous athlete and person. He is passionate about his craft, extremely determined, and gives nothing less than 100% each time he trains or competes. He is kind, compassionate and strives to be the best person he can be on or off the gym floor.”

By accomplishing their goal of winning the Parapan Am gold medal, the wheelchair rugby team has qualified for the 2016 Paralympics. After already winning a silver medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games, Madell says, “Now that we have had a taste of gold we hope to keep this hunger moving forward and continue to bring home the bling!”

We look forward to watching the men’s rugby team in Rio next summer!

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary
Written by Brittany Schussler: @BSchussler
Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto

Partner, Sport Science Solutions, Sport Medicine, Integrated Support Team, Game Plan, Paralympic Athelte, Performance Services, Canadian Sport Institute Calgary Team, Chris Osmond, Strength and Conditioning, Wheelchair Rugby

CSIC Athletes Thrilled with WinSport-Under Armour Partnership

The Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSIC) athletes and staff are benefitting from a multi-year partnership between Under Armour Canada and WinSport. The values of both WinSport and the CSIC are aligned with Under Armour’s brand mission of making all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation.

Part of Under Armour’s role within the agreement is to support athletes as the official performance athletic apparel and footwear sponsor of WinSport. This includes providing a kit to CSIC athletes and coaches each year that consists of a gym bag, shoes, two pairs of shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, two short-sleeved shirts, six pairs of socks, a track suit and a compression kit.

Having training apparel provided is a major advantage in the opinion of athletics athlete Seyi Smith, who enjoys the opportunity to provide direct feedback to the company who manufactures his training gear. Smith says, “Athletics is a full body sport in which every inch of your body must be working optimally. With Under Armour, athletes are getting to train and compete without clothing being a limiting factor. We are able to maximize the training effect and be the best we can be.”

WinSport’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Sport Officer Stephen Norris also notes the importance of this advantage, stating, “WinSport has secured Under Armour’s support in providing world-leading apparel kits to high performance athletes. We strive to provide athletes with the best possible daily training environment, and we have taken that one step further with the apparel and footwear kits.”

Through the partnership, Under Armour is also a major supporter of the high performance training centre and public training facility at WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre. The high performance training centre in which the CSIC athletes train on a regular basis contains motivational branding where the words “Stay Humble Be Hungry” are written on the wall to reinforce the shared goals of the organizations, sponsors, and athletes.

The shared vision of Under Armour, the CSIC, and WinSport continues to help the athletes be the best in the world. Luge athlete Kimberley McRae sums up the CSIC athletes’ enthusiasm for the partnership, exclaiming, “The Under Armour gear we have received has been great! From shoes to tank tops, we are covered for the gear we need to train in each day. Thanks Under Armour!”

Partner, WinSport, Under Armour

#PoweringPodiumPerformances Behind the scenes at CSIC

The Canadian Sport Institute Calgary is really excited to unveil our new video. The CSIC is extremely proud of the expertise of our staff, facilities and services that we provide to Canadian athletes. This video aims to share our successes through a behind-the-scenes look at the services and tools that the CSIC has provided to athletes since its inception over 20 years ago.

Many of the ways that the CSIC continues to power podium performances are shown in this 60 second video. Keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of elite athletes in their day-to-day quest for gold including bobsledder Jesse Lumsden doing strength training in the high performance weight room; speed skater Ivanie Blondin using sport science initiatives through physiological testing on a specialized skating treadmill; lugers Alex Gough and Sam Edney benefitting from biomechanic and performance analysis; and curler John Morris's attentiveness to nutrition and recovery benefits using the athlete kitchen and lounge.

The CSIC has been home to many winter and summer athletes who represent Canada. To date, CSIC athletes have won a total of 421 medals in competitions at World Championships. At Olympic and Paralympic Games our athletes have won 143 Gold, 146 Silver and 132 Bronze. We believe that this should be celebrated!

Call to action:

Please feel free to share this video by tagging athletes and sports federations that you recognize on your social media platforms and websites using the link: http://youtu.be/hkbDDNEfwW0.

We hope that both you and your fans will find it as inspiring as we do.

#PoweringPodiumPerformances

For athletes, coaches and federations, here are some sharing ideas:

Check out @CSICalgary's awesome new video of Olympic and Paralympic athletes behind the scenes. #PoweringPodiumPerformances http://ow.ly/R0dcT

Work behind performances! The day to day training of National Team athletes @CSICalgary #PoweringPodiumPerformances http://ow.ly/R0dcT

This is what I do! @CSICalgary #PoweringPodiumPerformances http://ow.ly/R0dcT

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary
Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto

Sport Science Solutions, Game Plan, Athlete, Performance Services, NextGen, Athlete Resources


Copyright © 2013 Canadian Sport Institute Calgary | All Rights Reserved | Photo Credit : Dave Holland